First New Colombo Plan students arrive in Papua New Guinea

On Monday afternoon saw the official welcome for the first Australian students to travel to Papua New Guinea under the New Colombo Plan.

The seven specially selected students from the Federation University who arrive in Port Moresby today will undertake a four week professional teaching practicum in Oro Province, working alongside local teachers in the Kokoda Elementary School and the Kokoda Skills Training Centre.

Several of the students will participate in a 10-day leadership development trek across the historic Kokoda Track which will bring further chances to meet local people and appreciate the geography of PNG.

The students are among more than 3,000 young Australians from 37 universities who will live, study and work in the Indo-Pacific region during the second year of the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan.

The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian Government which sends undergraduate students to countries across the Asia-Pacific region to learn, build friendships and strengthen ties with our neighbours.

The New Colombo Plan involves a scholarships program for study of up to one year and internships or mentorships, and a flexible mobility grants program for both short and longer-term study, internships, mentorships, practicums and research.

The Australian Government has committed $100 million over five years to the New Colombo Plan.

Caption: The seven New Colombo Plan students with their lecturer Dr Rob David (back row far left) from Federation University with Australian High Commissioner HE Ms Deborah Stokes, PNG Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Malachi Tabar and Director General for the Office of Higher Education Professor David Kavanamur.

Go to the Colombo Scholarships  details here